Method of applying an active ingredient to a geographic area using an agricultural implement

ABSTRACT

An agricultural implement for applying an active ingredient to a geographic area includes a chassis, and at least one active ingredient tank. Each active ingredient tank is removably positioned on and carried by the chassis. Each active ingredient tank contains an active ingredient therein which is to be applied to the geographic area. Each active ingredient tank has an identification (ID) tag representing data associated with the active ingredient. An electrical reader carried by the chassis is configured for reading the ID tag and providing an output signal. An electrical processing circuit is coupled with the reader and receives the output signal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.13/859,214, filed Apr. 9, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/796,637, filed Mar. 12, 2013, now U.S.Pat. No. 9,265,194, issued Feb. 23, 2016, which is incorporated hereinby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to agricultural sprayers, and, moreparticularly, to such sprayers using a metered application with anonboard primary carrier tank and one or more agricultural chemicaltanks.

2. Description of the Related Art

Agricultural sprayers apply a liquid to a crop or the ground at aspecified application rate. The liquid may be in the form of a solutionor mixture, with a carrier liquid (such as water) being mixed with oneor more active ingredients (such as a herbicide, fertilizer and/or apesticide). The application rate can vary over different parts of afield through the use of precision farming techniques, such as by usingGPS data to activate/deactivate boom sections of the sprayer as thesprayer traverses over the field.

Agricultural sprayers may be pulled as an implement or self-propelled,and typically include a tank, a pump, a boom assembly, and a pluralityof nozzles carried by the boom assembly at spaced locations. The boomassembly typically includes a pair of wing booms, with each wing boomextending to either side of the sprayer when in an unfolded state. Eachwing boom may include multiple boom sections, each with a number ofspray nozzles (also sometimes referred to as spray tips). Of course, aself-propelled sprayer also includes an onboard power plant (e.g.,diesel engine) providing motive force and other power such as hydraulicpower, electrical power, etc.

Agricultural sprayers may generally be divided into two types or methodsof application: a batch application method, and a metered applicationmethod. With a batch application method, a tank is filled with thecarrier liquid, one or more active ingredients are mixed with thecarrier liquid in the tank, and the solution or mixture is applied at apredetermined application rate over the field (defined by vehicle travelspeed, nozzle size and fluid operating pressure). A batch applicationmethod is effective but is not sensitive to different application needsacross the field. Moreover, it is rarely the case where liquid in thetank is not left over at the end of spraying, which then must bediscarded. These factors increase the operating costs associated with abatch application method.

With a metered application method, the active ingredient(s) are mixed ata metered rate with the carrier liquid as it is transferred from acarrier tank to the sprayer nozzles. Such metering may be carried outusing pumps, venturi nozzles or controllable valves. A meteredapplication method allows the application rate to be more easily changed“on-the-fly” across a field, and avoids the need to dispose of unusedspray solution at the end of a spray operation (except what may be leftin the lines, pump, etc. between the tank and nozzles).

Conventional sprayers using a metered application method include acarrier tank and one or more active ingredient tanks, all of which arepermanently mounted to the sprayer chassis. The carrier liquid is pumpedfrom a nurse tank (e.g., carried on a flat truck or trailer) to thecarrier tank on the sprayer using a transfer pump and fill lines.Similarly, the active ingredient(s) are pumped from a nurse tank to arespective active ingredient tank on the sprayer using a transfer pumpand fill lines. This method of refilling for both the carrier liquid andthe active ingredients is effective but is time consuming and requiresmanual positioning and connection of the fill lines, starting thetransfer pumps, etc.

What is needed in the art is an agricultural sprayer with meteredapplication which reduces the downtime and effort associated withrefilling the tanks.

What is further needed is a way of quickly and easily correlatinginformation associated with an active ingredient tank with otherrelevant data for accurate and cost effective application of the activeingredient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an agricultural implement with an onboardchemical tote, a reader for automatically reading data associated withthe contents of the chemical tote, and a controller for matchingprecision farming data with the chemical tote contents data, andcontrolling application of the chemical based on the matched data.

The invention in one form is directed to an agricultural implement forapplying an active ingredient to a geographic area. The agriculturalimplement includes a chassis, and at least one active ingredient tank,with each active ingredient tank being removably positioned on andcarried by the chassis. Each active ingredient tank contains an activeingredient therein which is to be applied to the geographic area. Eachactive ingredient tank has an identification (ID) tag representing dataassociated with the active ingredient. An electrical reader carried bythe chassis is configured for reading the ID tag and providing an outputsignal. An electrical processing circuit is coupled with the reader andreceives the output signal.

In another form of the invention, the electrical processing circuitincludes precision farming data associated with the geographic area, andmatches the data associated with the active ingredient with theprecision farming data to establish an application rate of the activeingredient over at least a portion of the geographic area.

The invention in yet another form is directed to a method of applying anactive ingredient to a geographic area using an agricultural implement.The method includes the steps of: placing an active ingredient tank in adedicated storage area onboard the agricultural implement, the activeingredient tank including an identification (ID) tag representing dataassociated with the active ingredient; reading the ID tag using areader; outputting an output signal from the reader to an electricalprocessing circuit carried onboard the agricultural implement; andcontrolling application of the active ingredient to the geographic areausing the electrical processing circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention,and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and theinvention will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an agricultural sprayerof the present invention, shown traversing over a geographic area suchas a field;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the agricultural sprayer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of an activeingredient tank which may be used with the sprayer shown in FIGS. 1 and2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, top perspective view of the tote storage areaon the sprayer of FIGS. 1 and 2, with the active ingredient tanksremoved;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an active ingredient tank positionedrelative to a fluid connector associated with the tote storage area;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of another embodiment of an activeingredient tank which may be used with an agricultural sprayer of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an agricultural implementin the form of a sprayer for applying an active ingredient to ageographic area; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method of the presentinvention for applying an active ingredient to a geographic area usingthe sprayer of FIG. 7.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplifications set out hereinillustrate embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications arenot to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in anymanner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown an agricultural sprayer 10 according to one embodiment of thepresent invention. Agricultural sprayer 10 is shown as a self-propelledsprayer with a plurality of wheels 12 and a prime mover in the form ofan internal combustion (IC) engine (e.g., diesel engine) within anengine compartment 14. However, agricultural sprayer 10 could also beconfigured as a towed sprayer which is towed behind a work vehicle suchas a tractor. Moreover, agricultural sprayer could also be a track-typeself-propelled vehicle for certain applications.

Agricultural sprayer 10 includes a chassis 16 to which a pair of wingbooms 18, 20 are connected, united by a center boom 19. For sake ofdescription, wing boom 18 is considered a left wing boom and wing boom20 is considered a right wing boom. The wing booms 18, 20 are connectedto center boom 19, joined about respective pivot connections 22, 24.Center boom 19 is connected at or near the rear of chassis 16. The wingbooms 18, 20 are designed to fold forward toward the leading end ofchassis 16 when wing booms 18, 20 are moved from an extended position,shown in FIG. 1, to a stowed or transport position (not shown).

Each wing boom 18, 20 supports a number of boom sections 18A, 18B, 18C,20A, 20B and 20C. Center boom 19 and wing boom sections 18A, 18B, 18C,20A, 20B and 20C each include a number of spray nozzles (not shown). Inthe embodiment shown, each wing boom has three boom sections,corresponding to the fold locations of the wing boom. In the illustratedembodiment, the spray nozzles of center boom 19 and wing boom sections18A, 18B, 18C, 20A, 20B and 20C are fluidly connected in parallelrelative to each other. Moreover, the spray nozzles within center boom19 and a same wing boom section 18A, 18B, 18C, 20A, 20B or 20C aretypically connected together in series. This arrangement of spraynozzles allows the spray nozzles of center boom 19 and wing boomsections 18A, 18B, 18C, 20A, 20B and 20C to be independently turned onand off as sprayer 10 advances across a field (e.g., using GPS data).

Referring now to FIG. 2, a carrier tank 26 is positioned generally inthe center of chassis 16 between wing booms 18, 20 and behind anoperator cab 28. Carrier tank 26 is designed to contain a carrier fluid,typically water, which is fed to the spray nozzles through a series offluid lines (not shown). The water is mixed in a metered fashion withone or more active ingredients (i.e., agricultural chemicals such asfertilizer, herbicide or pesticide) stored in respective activeingredient tanks 30 also carried onboard sprayer 10. Metering devicesfor metering an active ingredient into a carrier liquid from carriertank 26 are known in the art and not described in greater detail herein.Operator cab 28 contains a control panel (not shown) that has variousoperator controls for controlling operation of the sprayer and itscomponents.

According to an aspect of the present invention, agricultural sprayer 10includes a storage area 32 associated with chassis 16 which isconfigured for and dedicated to removable storage of each activeingredient tank 30. In the illustrated embodiment, storage area 32includes a support structure 34 which is fixedly mounted to chassis 16.Support structure 34 has a generally horizontal platform 36 forsupporting each active ingredient tank 30. Active ingredient tanks 30are preferably configured as totes, in which case storage area 32 may bedefined as a tote storage area.

Each active ingredient tank 30 may have any suitable predefined shapeand size. In the embodiment shown, each active ingredient tank 30 has anoverall rectangular shape but could have a cube or other exterior shape.Preferably each active ingredient tank 30 has a common predefined shape;however, it is also possible that active ingredient tanks 30 positionedon horizontal platform 36 may have different shapes. For example, oneactive ingredient tank 30 could have a rectangular shape and anotheractive ingredient tank 30 could have a cube shape. Other predefinedshapes such as a cylindrical shape are also possible. Active ingredienttanks 30 are assumed to have a size of between 40 to 50 gallons(corresponding to approximately 400 to 500 pounds each); however, othersizes of active ingredient tanks 30 are also possible. It will beappreciated that support structure 34 must be configured to support anyanticipated sizes of active ingredient tanks 30, keeping in mind dynamicloading forces such as fluid sloshing and bouncing as agriculturalsprayer 10 proceeds across a field.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 5, and as described above, each activeingredient tank 30 is preferably configured as a tote with a plastictank 38 surrounded by a metal support structure 40. A bottom wall 42 isspaced upwardly from a bottom edge 44 of active ingredient tank 30 andsupports the bottom of tank 38. Active ingredient tank 30 has adownwardly extending nozzle 46 which extends through bottom wall 42 andterminates slightly above bottom edge 44. Nozzle 46 may have anysuitable shape and size, and is shown as a tapered nozzle in theillustrated embodiment.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, storage area 32 includes one or morefluid connectors 48 associated therewith. Each fluid connector 48 isconfigured for automatically forming a sealed connection with acorresponding active ingredient tank 30 upon placement of activeingredient tank 30 within storage area 32. In the illustratedembodiment, storage area 32 includes three fluid connectors 48associated with the three respective active ingredient tanks 30.

Each fluid connector 48 is generally configured to pierce and seal witha corresponding active ingredient tank 30. More particularly, each fluidconnector 48 includes a reservoir 50 which extends upwardly from storagearea 32. A piercing member 52 is centrally located within reservoir 50and has an upper piercing tip (not numbered) for piercing a membraneforming part of nozzle 46. Nozzle 46 has an exterior shape and sizewhich seals with an interior shape and size of reservoir 50, andpiercing of the membrane within nozzle 46 allows the active ingredientwithin active ingredient tank 30 to flow through fluid connector 48 to adownstream metering device (not shown).

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, nozzle 46 is positioned at thebottom of active ingredient tank 30 and automatically couples with fluidconnector 48 within storage area 32. However, other types of automaticor manual fluid connector configurations are also possible. For example,nozzle 46 could be positioned at the lower side of active ingredienttank 30 and automatically or manually coupled with a fluid connectorwhich is in fluid communication with the metering device.

Storage area 32 may be configured with optional upstanding walls 54defining a recessed area 56 associated with each respective activeingredient tank 30. Each recessed area 56 is configured to receive abottom edge 44 of an active ingredient tank 30 therein to reduce oreliminate movement of active ingredient tank 30 on support structure 34.Each active ingredient tank 30 may also be restrained within storagearea 32 with one or more restraining devices 58. In the embodimentshown, a single restraining device in the form of a restraining strap 58wraps around a corresponding active ingredient tank 30 and is attachedat either end with an eye hook 60 extending upwardly from supportstructure 34.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown another embodiment of an activeingredient tank 70 which may be used with agricultural sprayer 10 of thepresent invention. Similar to active ingredient tank 30 described abovewith reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, active ingredient tank 70 also isconfigured as a tote with an exterior shape and size which is suitablefor a given application. The primary difference between activeingredient tanks 30 and 70 is that active ingredient tank 70 does nothave a fluid connector arrangement (e.g., nozzle 46) at the bottomthereof which automatically connects and seals with a mating connectorassociated with storage area 32. Rather, active ingredient tank 70includes a top cover 72 with a predefined shape and size which is commonfrom one active ingredient tank 70 to the next. A suction line 74extends through cover 72 and has a bottom end which is positioned at ornear the bottom of active ingredient tank 70. Suction line 74 ispreferably configured with a quick-attach fitting 76 for attachment witha corresponding fluid line 78 onboard agricultural sprayer 10 leading tothe metering device. In the illustrated embodiment, quick attach fitting76 is configured as a so-called cam and groove fitting, but could beconfigured as a different type of quick attach fitting.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a schematic illustration ofagricultural sprayer 10 which may be used for applying an activeingredient to a geographic area, such as all or a portion of field 80shown in FIG. 1.

According to another aspect of the present invention, active ingredienttank 30 includes an ID tag 82 which is attached or otherwise affixedthereto. ID tag 82 is shown positioned toward the top of activeingredient tank 30, but can be positioned at any suitable locationallowing automated reading thereof. ID tag 82 can be any type of tagwhich can be read in an automated manner, such as a radio frequencyidentification (RFID) tag, barcode, etc. In the illustrated embodiment,ID tag 82 is in the form of an RFID tag.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are well known throughoutindustry, and are being increasingly utilized for supply chainmanagement, inventory management, and logistic control. These tags canbe written to and read from a handheld transceiver (referred to as anRFID reader) or fixed portal. For example, an RFID tag can be placedupon a shipping container and contain data corresponding to the contentsof the shipping container. The RFID tag can be read using a handheldreader or a portal reader, and the data offloaded from the reader to acomputer for processing.

ID tag 82 includes data representing an active ingredient containedwithin active ingredient tank 30. For example, ID tag 82 can includedata representing a quantity of the active ingredient within activeingredient tank 30, a type of the active ingredient within activeingredient tank 30, and/or a concentration of the active ingredientwithin active ingredient tank 30.

A reader 84 is carried directly or indirectly by chassis 16, and ispositioned at a suitable location allowing automated reading of ID tag82. In the illustrated embodiment, reader 84 is in the form of an RFIDreader which is positioned above and to the side of active ingredienttank 30, allowing automated reading of RFID tag 82. Reader 84 can alsobe a barcode reader if ID tag 82 is configured as a barcode. For someapplications, reader 84 need not be carried by chassis 16, but rathercan be a handheld reader providing a wireless output signal.

Located within operator cab 28 are an electrical processing circuit 86,a visual display 88 and a memory 90. Visual display 88 is coupled withelectronic controller 86 and provides a visual display to an operatorlocated within operator cab 28. Visual display 88 can display a numberof different types of visual information, including data associated withthe active ingredient within active ingredient tank 30. Visual display88 may be any suitable type of display, such as an LED display, LCDdisplay, etc.

Memory 90 likewise is coupled with electronic controller 86 and may beany suitable type of memory, such as a static or dynamic memory. Memory90 may include any type of relevant data, including precision farmingdata which may be generated by the operator or obtained from a number ofdifferent commercial sources (represented by the dashed box 92). Suchdata can be uploaded to memory 90 using any suitable technique, such asa direct wired or wireless upload, wireless Internet upload, satelliteupload, etc. The precision farming data may be of different data types,such as a topographical map of the geographic area; at least one soiltype associated with the geographic area; at least one application rateof the active ingredient associated with the geographic area; at leastone fertility level of soil associated with the geographic area; and atleast one pH level of soil associated with the geographic area. Forpurposes of illustration, a portion of a topographical map includingsoil types 80A, 80B and 80C is shown in FIG. 1.

Electrical processing circuit 86 is shown as a digital electroniccontroller in FIG. 7, but could also be configured as an analog typeprocessing circuit. Electronic controller 86 is coupled with reader 84,either wired or wireless, and receives output signals from reader 84representing data associated with the active ingredient within activeingredient tank 30. Electronic controller 86 controls operation ofreader 84 to read ID tag 82 either automatically or on command. Forautomated reading of ID tag 82, a read trigger in the form of a switch94 is positioned in association with active ingredient tank 30. Switch94 is shown positioned below active ingredient tank 30 within therecessed area defined by storage area 32, but could be positioned at adifferent location if desired. Switch 94 is actuated when activeingredient tank 30 is placed within storage area 32, and provides anoutput signal to electronic controller 86. Electronic controller 86receives the output signal from switch 94 and controls reader 84 toeffect a read operation of ID tag 82.

For manual or “on command” reading of ID tag 82, and operator withinoperator cab 28 can manually depress a switch or button, such as avirtual button 96 on visual display 88. A corresponding output signal isprovided from visual display 88 to electronic controller 86, which inturn effects the read operation of ID tag 82 using reader 84.

Electronic controller 86 receives precision farming data from memory 90associated with the geographic area represented by field 80. Electroniccontroller 86 matches the data read from ID tag 82 and associated withthe active ingredient within active ingredient tank 30 with theprecision farming data to establish one or more application rates of theactive ingredient over at least a portion of field 80. For example,assuming that the active ingredient within active ingredient think 30 isa herbicide, the application rate of the herbicide can vary fordifferent soil types within field 80. As shown in FIG. 1, a field 80 caninclude multiple soil types 80A, 80B and 80C. By automatically matchingthe data from ID tag 82 with the precision farming data, electroniccontroller 86 can vary the application rate from one soil type toanother as sprayer 10 moves across field 80. An operator can optionallybe prompted on visual display 88 to accept the application rates basedon the matched data, or can manually enter another application rate(s)by overriding the application rates based on the match data.

During use of agricultural sprayer 10, carrier tank 26 is filled with acarrier liquid such as water. The active ingredient tank 30 may beoffloaded to the worksite from a delivery vehicle and placed on supportstructure 34 within storage area 32 of sprayer 10 (FIG. 8, block 100).The active ingredient tank 30 is fluidly coupled either automatically ormanually as described above, and then strapped down to support structure34. Upon placement of active ingredient tank 30 within storage area 32,switch 94 is actuated and provides an output signal to controller 86,which in turn effects a read operation of ID tag 82 using reader 84(block 102). Electronic controller 86 matches the contents data ofactive ingredient tank 30 with the precision farming data andestablishes one or more application rates of the active ingredientwithin active ingredient tank 30 (block 104). The metering devicereceives both the carrier liquid from carrier tank 26, as well as theactive ingredients from active ingredient tank 30, and meters the activeingredient(s) at known application rates under control of electroniccontroller 86 using the matched data (block 106). When the activeingredient tanks are at or near empty, they may be unstrapped, removedand replaced with another full active ingredient tank 30.

A process for reading the contents of a single active ingredient tank 30is described above for simplicity sake. However, it is also to beunderstood that this same process of reading the active ingredientswithin multiple active ingredient tanks 30 or 70 can be effected usingthe same methodology.

While this invention has been described with respect to at least oneembodiment, the present invention can be further modified within thespirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is thereforeintended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the inventionusing its general principles. Further, this application is intended tocover such departures from the present disclosure as come within knownor customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains andwhich fall within the limits of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of applying an active ingredient, to ageographic area using an agricultural Implement having an electricalsystem, said method comprising the steps of: placing an activeingredient tank in a dedicated storage area onboard said agriculturalimplement, said active ingredient tank including an identification (ID)tag representing data associated with said active ingredient; actuatinga switch in response to the positioning of the at least one activeingredient tank on a chassis, the switch generating an activation signalin response to actuation of the switch by the at least one activeingredient tank; automatically activating a reader in response to theactivation signal, so as to cause the reader to wirelessly read the IDtag; outputting an output signal from the reader to an electricalprocessing circuit carried onboard the agricultural implement, theelectrical processing circuit establishing an application rate of theactive ingredient over at least a portion of the geographic area inresponse to the output signal and precision farming data associated withthe geographic area; and controlling application of the activeingredient to the at least a portion of the geographic area using theelectrical processing circuit; wherein she ID tag is free of a physicalconnection to the electrical system of the agricultural implement. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein said electrical processing circuitcarries out the sub-step of matching the data associated with the activeingredient with the precision farming data to establish the applicationrate of the active ingredient over the at least a portion of thegeographic area.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the data associatedwith the active ingredient includes at least one of: a quantity of theactive ingredient within the active ingredient tank; a type of theactive ingredient within the active ingredient tank; and a concentrationof the active ingredient within the active ingredient tank.
 4. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the precision farming data includes at leastone of: a topographical map of the geographic area; at least one soiltype associated with the geographic area; at least one application rateof the active ingredient associated with the geographic area; at leastone fertility level of soil associated with the geographic area; and atleast one pH level of soil associated with the geographic area.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said ID tag is one of a radio frequencyidentification (RFID) tag and a bar code.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein the reader wirelessly reads the ID tag by using one of an RFIDreader and a bar code reader.